By Edgar Gabarinocheka – Political Analyst | Ya FM | July 23, 2025
As the August 2 Ward 6 parliamentary by-election in Epworth draws near, the political battleground has turned into a stage for deeper ideological and factional warfare within Zimbabwe’s fractured political landscape. The contest has become more than just a race for an MP seat—it is now a public referendum on the toxic entanglement of wealth, power, and populism in Zimbabwean politics.
Over the past week, sharp exchanges have erupted between MDC leader Douglas Mwonzora and Zanu PF spokesperson Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, with businessman Kuda Tagwirei caught in the political crossfire. What might have seemed like a simple by-election to replace a Member of Parliament has ballooned into a stage for inter-party rivalries, intra-party fractures, and questions over who really holds influence in today’s Zimbabwe—those with the people, or those with the purse?
Mwonzora’s Fiery Rebuke: “Eat Their Money, Vote Wisely”
In a fiery address to MDC supporters in Epworth, Mwonzora tore into the politics of patronage being deployed by Zanu PF-aligned businessman Kuda Tagwirei. In typical populist cadence, Mwonzora urged residents to “eat their money and vote wisely,” invoking echoes of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle where ideology, not affluence, was the currency of leadership.
“When Mugabe came from Mozambique, he had one safari suit,” Mwonzora reminded the crowd. “He fought against a machine that could spend a million pounds a day. They had helicopters and jets. But he still won.”
Mwonzora’s allegory is not without merit. His reference to the late Robert Mugabe’s ascetic revolutionary beginnings contrasted sharply with today’s ‘Gucci comrades’—a term often used to describe the new political elite who display wealth with impunity in the face of national poverty. Mwonzora placed Tagwirei in this category, calling him a “bad-mannered, incompetent politician” and accusing him of trying to buy influence in both Zanu PF and Epworth through “money and cars.”
The Village and the Pot of Sadza: A Political Allegory
Zimbabwe’s politics has always had a village soul. Imagine a village feast—one man brings a big pot of sadza, but he refuses to share unless the people chant his name. Another man, with no sadza, brings clean water and stories that make people laugh and hope. When the vote comes—who does the village choose?
In Epworth, Tagwirei has promised to “single out five youths” for support. Mwonzora dismissed this gesture as tokenism in a community ravaged by drug abuse, housing crises, and unemployment.
“What is five youths compared to the youth population of Epworth?” he asked, exposing the hollowness of performative philanthropy.
Mutsvangwa: A Subtle Reprimand from Within
While Mwonzora’s attack was ideological, Zanu PF’s own spokesman, Christopher Mutsvangwa, took a more strategic approach, tactfully distancing the party from Tagwirei’s solo political escapades.
Speaking to journalists, Mutsvangwa admitted the initial rally Tagwirei held in Epworth was not sanctioned by the party, and subtly rebuked Harare Province for attempting to parachute Tagwirei into the Zanu PF Central Committee without following party protocol.
“Being big comes with responsibility,” Mutsvangwa warned. “Harare Province must not embarrass itself.”
In political theory, this is classic gatekeeping. Mutsvangwa, a seasoned war veteran and party ideologue, is safeguarding the institutional structure of Zanu PF from external forces attempting to bypass it through wealth or influence. His statement reflects a broader power struggle within the ruling party—between the old guard rooted in ideology and party procedure, and the new breed of elites who seek fast-tracked influence through financial muscle.
A By-Election of Bigger Battles
While the Ward 6 seat may seem minor on paper, the political undercurrents run deep. Epworth is a microcosm of national dysfunction—urban poverty, informal settlements, youth unemployment, and an electorate disillusioned by both opposition promises and ruling party failures.
Tagwirei’s involvement has made the by-election a proxy war. For Zanu PF, it is a test of whether the old party machinery can still dictate direction, or whether business elites will hijack the party’s soul. For the MDC, it is a lifeline to reassert its relevance among the urban poor. For the voter, it is a chance to reject transactional politics that dangle trinkets in exchange for votes.
It’s not lost on many that Tagwirei’s sudden interest in Epworth comes after years of political and economic clout with little grassroots accountability. The community is asking: where was this wealth before the by-election? Why now?
The Bigger Picture: A Nation at a Crossroads
This by-election, while local in scope, mirrors the national mood—a political class out of touch, a citizenry caught in the crossfire, and an elite squabble over who gets to wear the crown. What is at stake is not just a parliamentary seat, but a broader question: Can democracy survive when money speaks louder than votes?
Both Mwonzora and Mutsvangwa, from opposite ends of the political spectrum, seem to agree on one thing—Zimbabwean politics must be grounded not in opportunistic wealth, but in principle, legitimacy, and service.
As Epworth’s dusty roads fill with campaign rallies, loudspeakers, and branded t-shirts, the voters must decide whether to accept a ride in the donor’s Benz, or walk with dignity into a polling booth with a memory of who showed up when the cameras were off.
And maybe, just maybe, the village will remember that the pot of sadza is not worth its soul.
Follow Edgar Gabarinocheka on the Great Dyke News WhatsApp News Channel for more political insights and live election updates: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaEH3HOGoJ7GSCv6GI1T
Disclaimer: Edgar Gabarinocheka (VIO) writes in his own capacity and his views are not the views of Ya FM or Great Dyke News 24, which only provide a platform to encourage productive and constructive debate on national and global issues.
